Rayon spinning machine



Feb. 23, 1937.

H. W. BUTTERWORTH, JR" AL RAYQN SPINNING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1933 e Shets-Sheet 1 m1... In .1

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Feb. 23, 1937. H. w. BUTTERWORTH, JR., El AL 2,072,023

RAYON SPINNING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1937. H. w. BUYTTERWORTH, JR.. El AL 2,072,023

RAYON SPINNING MACHINE I Filed Mayvl8, 1953 6 Sheets- Sheet s 23, 1937. H.7W. BUTTERWORTH, JR.. ET AL 2,072,023

RAYQN SPINNING, MACHINE I Filed May 18, 1933 e Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 23, 1937.

RAYON SPINNING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. w. BUTTERWORTH, JR.. El AL 2,072,023

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAYON SPINNING MACHINE Application May 18, 1933, Serial No. 671,732

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rayon spinning machines of the pot-spinning type.

Rayon spinning machines, as ordinarily constructed, are formed in sections, each section containing a plurality of spinning pots with their associated traverse mechanism. The pots of each section are arranged in two rows at opposite sides of a central partition and have associated therewith traverse mechanisms controlling the operation of funnels associated with the pots. Such traverse mechanisms comprise a pair of rocker shafts arranged at opposite sides of the partition and each controlling the pots at its side of the partition, or a centrally disposed cam shaft operating two sets of rocker arms, each set of which controls the operation of the traverse mechanisms at one side of the partition. The funnels are connected to the traverse mechanism in such way that they may be moved out of the way during the removal of the pot. The traverse mechanism, per se, is of such nature that it is substantially impossible to house the same, with the result that it is constantly subject to attacks of acids thrown off by the filament in its passage to the pots. Furthermore, each individual funnel must be separately manipulated in order to place the same in a position where access may be had to the pot. This is, doubtless, due to the fact that in the construction of rayon spinning machines the practice has been to adopt traverse constructions previously employed in ordinary winding machines.

Important objects of this invention are to provide a construction in which the traverse mechanism is materially reduced as regards the number of its working parts; to provide a traverse mechanism in which all such working parts are housed and protected from the acids given off by the filament; to provide a construction such that the manipulation of the funnels is much simplified and the funnels of each section may be shifted as a unit; to so mount the driving motors of the spinning pots that they may be readily exchanged for motors of a different size or replaced in event of break-down and to, in general, improve the construction of the machine to facilitate repair and promote the efiiciency of operation.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, we have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a rayon spinning machine constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine partially in section;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the funnel rail supports;

Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the method of 5 driving the traverse;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View showing the mounting of the traverse arms;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modified rail-supporting structure and the use of a modified seal about the traverse arm;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view showing in plan the rail-supporting structure of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View showing the method of mounting the godet Wheel bearings with the trough wall.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral !0 generally designates sections of a rayon spinning machine, opposite ends of which are defined by vertically-extending parti- 20 tion frames H. The frames H, in addition to affording support for the spinning pump frames l2 mounting the spinning pumps l 3 and mounting motor-supporting frames Hi for the motors iii of spinning pots l5, likewise support a head frame I 7 25 which extends longitudinally of the casing and is in the form of a trough provided with a removable cover l8. Extending through the side walls of this trough, and having sealing engagement with the side walls, are the bearings IQ for the 30 shafts 2B of godet wheels 2!, these shafts being driven by a pair of drive shafts 22 extending longitudinally of the trough and through the partition frames to an end frame where they are connected to a drive motor 23 by a gear train. Likewise extending longitudinally of trough H is a shaft 24, this shaft being driven at a variable speed, preferably through mechanism illustrated in our copending application for Traverse drive for spinning machines, filed May 9, 1933, Ser. 0 No. 670,206, such drive being generally designated at 25 and being preferably located centrally of the machine and sup-ported by the trough l1. Within each section of the trough is disposed a plurality of guides 26 each mounting for vertical reciprocation the cross head 2? of a Scotch yoke mechanism 28. Beneath the guide, the bottom of the trough mounts a bearing 29, which bearing includes a packing gland 30 sealing against leakage of lubricants through the bearing. The bottom of the trough further mounts a stub shaft 3| adjacent each guide, such stub shaft bearing the operating dicated at 33. Connected to the cross head 21 are f traverse arms 34 extending downwardly through the bearings 29 and packing glands 30 and having their lower ends mounted in bearings 35 carried by a longitudinally-extending bar 36 connecting the partitions I! adjacent the lower end thereof. Each section of the trough will be filled with a lubricant to a level approximately indicated at L in Fig. 1, withthe result that complete lubrication of the godet shafts, the operating shafts therefor, and those portions of the operating mechanism of the traverse which are located in the trough, is sure. I

The arms 34 support a bracket 31 comprising a longitudinally-extending bar 38 having arms 39 extending to opposite sides thereof. Arms 39 each have the outer ends thereof formed as a seat 40, the seats at each side of each section supporting a rail 4| which rail comprises a support for the distributors for the filaments at present shown as funnels 42 associated with the spinning pots at such side of the machine. Rails 4| are connected to bracket 31 by parallel motion mechanism including pairs of parallel links 43 at present shown as two in number and disposed adjacent opposite ends of the rail. These links serve to maintain the funnel in a vertical position while moving the funnels upwardly and outwardly of the pots, and furthermore enable these funnels to move vertically during the primary portion of the lifting movement so that they clear the pots before they begin an appreciable transverse movement. It will be noted that the funnels at either side of the machine may be simultaneously lifted and moved to their inoperative position, thus materially cutting down the work attending the removal of the spinning pots. The arms 39 of bracket 31 project well beyond and below the position of the lower ends of funnels 42 when these funnels are in their inoperative position, with the result that these arms effectually. prevent accidental contact between the cover 44 of the spinning pot chamber 45 and the funnels during the removal of the former to permit access to the spinning pots. Breakage of the funnels, which are usually formed of glass, is thus materially reduced.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, that portion of the filament F extending between the godet wheel 2| and the pot in which it is being spun is twisting rapidly, due to the rapid rotation given the pot I 6 and, consequently, tends to continuously throw off acids collected during its passage through the coagulating bath 46. Despite the fact that the upper portion of the machine is furnished with eduction ducts 41 for the removal of gases and acid-laden vapors, these resisting material,

tube surrounding those portions of the arm 34 vapors are always present to a sufficient extent to attack any bare metal surfaces and, in accordance with the usual practice, such metal surfaces in the machine are always protected. This protection is a comparatively simple matter with surfaces not operating through bearings as, for example, bracket 31. The protection of the reciprocating arm 34 is, however, not so simple a matter. This protection is, in the present instance, shown as provided by mounting upon the follower of gland 30 a tube of lead, or other acidas indicated at 48, this which are immediately below the gland. Secured to the upper surface of the bracket in surrounding relation to the arm is a second tube 49 the upper end of which is at all times disposed above the lower end of the tube 48 so that the tubes 48 and 49 combine to produce a continuoussheath some about the arm between the gland and bracket.

Below the bracket the arm 34 extends through the lower eduction duct 50 which serves to withdraw vapors and acid-laden air from about the spinning pots l6. The duct 59 is apertured in its upper and lower walls as at 5| and 52 for the passage of the arm 34 and these walls are connected by an acid-resisting sheath 53 surrounding the arm. The lower end of the bracket 31 is provided with a sheath 54 surrounding the arm 34, and of such length that its lower end is always disposed below the level of the upper wall 5| of duct 50.

The bearings 35 are each hooded at their upper ends, as indicated at 55, to provide a lubricant storage space, and provided with a cap 56 at their lower ends which completely encloses the lower end of the arm. The lower end of the arm is provided with a vertical bore 51 communicating through transverse ports 58 with the interior of the hooded space. It will be obvious that lubricantwhich has moved downwardly alongthe. sides of the arm to the bottom of the cap 56 will, when compressed by the lowering of the arm, be forced upwardly through bore 51 and port 58 to return to the lubricant storage space. These bearings will, therefore, require attention and a renewal of their lubricant supply only at well spaced intervals.

Adjacent faces of partition frames II are provided with guides 59 in which slides 60 are vertically adjustable. The slides 66 comprise the ends of shelves 6| mounting the motors 15 of the spinning pots I6. Vertical adjustment of the slides is accomplished through adjusting screws 62 directed through ears 63 on the guides and abutting ears 64 on the shelf 6|. When proper adjustment is obtained, this may be rendered. permanent by securing elements 65. Between partition elements H the sides of the sections l0 are opened so that ready access may be had to the motors l5 for removal in case of necessary replacement or repair. The adjustment permits; substitution of a different type of motor wherever this may be desired without regard to the particular size or construction of the substitute motor.

A modified method of providing the seal about the traverse arm is illustrated in Fig. 6. In this figure the traverse arm is indicated at 34a and, as in the construction previously described, is extended through the fume duct 50. In this figure, the traverse rail support 66 has depending therefrom a tube 6'! corresponding-to the tube. 54 of the previously described structure, while extended through the duct 56 is a stationary tube 68 corresponding to the tube 53.. This tube is not, however, sealed to the upper wall of the duct as in the previous construction, but has attached; thereto a second tube 69 which surrounds the lower end of tube 6?. Tube 69 is sealed to, the tube 68 at its lower end, thus forming a receptacle for a sealing fluid, as indicated at 10. This fluid may be either water or some suitable chemical preparation. I Since the lower end of tube 61 operates in the liquid, a positive seal will be provided at all times between the ends of tubes 61 and 68. This structure will absolutely prevent the attack upon the lower bearing or the arm by the gases, and is particularly desirable at the point of passage of the arm through the duct 50, for the reason that at this point the fumes are always the strongest.

It maybe here pointed out that, due to the fact that bearing ,35 is,,disposed below the duct 50,

and to the fact that thebottom of the duct5ll combined with the bottom of the spinning pot chamber and the bottoms of the spinning baths provide a substantially solid horizontal wall above the bearing, this bearing is so isolated from the fumes that they have little or no eflect thereon. In the ordinary rayon spinning machine construction, the lower bearing of the traverse arm is disposed immediately in the zone where the acid fume is the thickest and, accordingly, deteriorates rapidly and is a constant source of trouble.

We further employ a novel mounting for the godet wheel bearings Hi; this mounting is more particularly illustrated in Fig. 8 in which I'm designates the opening for the passage of the godet Wheel bearing 19, and 1| the lead protective covering provided for the outer wall of the trough. This lead covering has, in axial alignment with the opening Ila, an opening of slightly greater diameter than the opening Ila, and the bearing I9 is provided with a flange 12 adapted to come in clamping engagement with the lead sheet ll about the edges of the opening thereof. Securing elements 13 extend through the flange and lead sheet and into the wall I 1 about the edges of the opening Ila, thereof. In order that the lead sheet may not be too tightly clamped and yet may be efiectively clamped to provide the necessary seal, and in order that the bearing may be properly located with relation to shaft 22, the inner face of flange 12 has a shoulder 14 abutting the outer face of the wall l1 about the opening Ila and within the opening of the lead sheet. This shoulder is of slightly less depth than the thickness of the sheet so that the proper clamping action maybe had prior to engagement of the shoulder with the wall II.

In Figs. 6 and 7, we have illustrated a modified traverse rail-supporting structure which will permit of ready construction of this element of the machine from some acid-resisting material such as bakelite or analogous substances. In these figures the numeral 75 designates split blocks clamped about the traverse arm 34a. These blocks support longitudinally-extending angle rails 16 which are connected at their ends by link supporting units 71, and intermediate their ends by one or more link-supporting units 18.

Link-supporting units 1! and 78 each comprise a base l9'from which arises a flange 80 extending transversely of the rail-supporting unit and to opposite sides of which at each end thereof links 8| are pivoted upon common pivots 82. Each unit I? and 78 further includes downwardly-extending flanges 83 which are secured to the longitudinal rail 16, the flanges 83 of the unit 18 being of greater length than the flanges 83 of the units 11 so that the units 78 are arranged at a higher level. The outer ends of the links 3! of the units 11 and 18 are secured to brackets 84 secured to a longitudinally-extending traverse rail 85 which directly carries the funnels 86 for the spinning pots. It will be noted that the connections of these links are such that the links of the units 1! and 1B are parallel so that the entire linkage constitutes a parallel motion mechanism maintaining rails 85 in a predetermined position during their movement from a point where the funnels 86 extend in the spinning pots to a position where they are clear of the spinning pots and not liable to contact by any portion of the spinning pot mechanism during removal of cakes therefrom. Due to the fact that the upper and lower links of this parallel motion mechanism are displaced longitudinally of the traverse mechanism with respect to one another, there is no interference of the links with one another and the unit may be moved to a position such that there is no danger Whatever of the funnels being contacted by portions of the mechanism as hereinbefore set'forth, or of a rail being accidentally jarred from its elevated position and dropping without warning to its lowered position. The bases 19 are preferably constructed at their opposite ends with seats 81 upon which the links engage when the funnel rails 85 are in their proper lowered position.

It will be obvious that by employing a construction of the type hereinbefore set forth, it is possible to materially reduce the cost of operation of the spinning machine as compared with those of the type ordinarily employed, due to the fact that those portions which require constant attention and lubrication are all so disposed as to be self-lubricating and to the fact that ready manipulation of the funnels is provided for. Furthermore, the efiiciency of the machine, particularly after a considerable period of use, may beconsiderably advanced by substitution of more modern types .of motors which can be eifected with great celerity.

Since the construction illustrated is capable of considerable modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of the invention, we do not wish to be'understood as limiting ourselves thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

'1. In a rayon spinning machine of the potspinning type, a section comprising a plurality'of pots arranged in a row, traverse mechanism comprising a single reciprocable member arranged adjacent said row of pots, arms extending outwardly from said member and having seats at theirends, a bar link-connected to the member for movement from a position where it is seated upon said seats to a position where it lies inwardly and upwardly thereof, and a distributor for each pot carried by said bar.

2. In a rayon spinning machine, spinning pots, a trough, godet wheels mounted in bearings extending through the Wall of said trough, a reciprocable member bearing distributors for said pots, operating mechanism for said reciprocable member comprising a single series of aligned bars extending through the center of the bottom Wall of said trough, and means within the trough to reciprocate said bars and shafts extending longitudinally of said trough at opposite sides of said means and having driving engagement with the inner ends of the shafts of said godet wheels.

3. In a rayon spinning machine of the potspinningtype, two rows of spinning pots, an overhead trough, a plurality of aligned rectilinearly reciprocable traverse arms extending downwardly centrally between the rows of pots and having their upper ends extended into the trough, means within the trough for reciprocating said traverse arms, and a member secured to all of said traverse arms and supporting distributors for the pots of both rows.

4. In a rayon spinning machine of the potspinning type, two rows of spinning pots, an overhead trough, a plurality of rectilinearly reciprocable traverse arms extending downwardly between the rows of pots and having their upper ends extended into the trough, means within the trough for reciprocating said traverse arms, a member secured to all of said traverse arms and supporting distributors for the pots of both rows,

and bearings for the upper and lower ends of said traverse arms, the bearings for the upper ends Cil of said traverse arms being supported by said trough and comprising sealing means to prevent the escape of liquids from the trough.

5. In a rayon spinning machine of the potspinning type, two rows of spinning pots, an overhead trough, a plurality of rectilinearly recipro cable traverse arms extending .downwardlybetween the rows of pots and havingtheir upper ends extended into the trough, means within the trough for reciprocatingsaid traverse arms, a member secured to all of said traverse armsand supporting distributors for the pots of both rows, and bearings for the upper and lower ends of said traverse arms, the bearings forthe lower ends of said traverse armsand said traverse arms being constructed and arranged to comprise a pump for transferring lubricant from the lower to the upper ends of said lower bearings.

6. In a rayon spinning machine of the potspinning type, two rows of spinning pots, an overhead trough, a plurality of rectilinearly reciprocable traverse arms extending downwardly between the rows of pots and having their upper ends extended into the trough, means within the trough for reciprocating said traverse arms, a member secured to all of said traverse arms and supporting distributors for the pots of both rows, and shields surrounding said arms, each shield comprising telescopically engaged elements carried by said trough and member.

7. In a rayon spinning machine, thecombination of spinning pots, a fume barrier below the spinning pots, a bearing below the barrier, an arm extending through said barrier and mounted in said bearing, means to reciprocate said arm, and a support for distributors for said spinning pots carried by said arm.

8. In a rayon spinning machine, the combination of spinning pots, an overhead trough, a fume barrier below the spinning pots, a bearing below the barrier, a bearing in the bottom of the trough, an arm extending through said barrier and mounted in said bearings, means to reciprocate said arm, and a support for distributors for said spinning pots carried by said arm.

9. In a rayon spinning machine, the combination of spinning pots, an overhead trough, a fume barrier below the spinning pots, a bearing below the barrier, a bearing in the bottom of the trough, an arm extending through said barrier and mounted in said bearings, means to reciprocate said arm, a support for distributors for said spinning pots carried by said arm, and means to preventdownward movement of fume along the arm comprising upper and lower tubes surrounding said arm and having their ends telescopically. engaged, the upper tube having its upper end sealed to thearm, the lower tube comprising a conduit through the barrier.

10. In av rayon spinning machine, the combination of spinning pots, an overhead trough, a fume barrierbelow the spinning pots, a bearing below the barrier, a bearing in the bottom of the trough, an-arm extending through said barrier and mounted in said bearings, means to reciprocate said arm, a support for distributors for said spinning pots. carried by said arm, means to prevent downward movement of fume along the arm comprising upper and lower tubes surrounding said arm and having their ends telescopically engaged, the upper tube having its upper end sealed to the arm, the lowertube comprising a conduit through the barrier, and a liquid seal between adjacent ends of said tubes.

11. In a rayon spinning machine of the potspinning type, a section comprising a pluralityof pots arranged in two rows, traverse mechanism comprising a single vertically reciprocable member arranged between said rows of pots, means to reciprocate said member comprising a rotary element, a rigid bar rigidly connected to the reciprocable member, a cross-head carried by the upper end of the'bar and a slide mounted in the cross-head and engaged by said rotary element, and a distributor for each pot carried by: said member.

, 12. In a rayon spinning machine of the pot- V spinning type, a plurality of spinning pots arranged in two rows, a trough disposed above said rows and paralleling the same, godet wheels mount-ed in bearings extending through the side walls of said trough, a single reciprocable member bearing distributors for all of said pots, operating mechanism for said reciprocable member comprising a single series of aligned bars rigidly connected to said reciprocable member, bearings carried centrally by the lower wall of the trough in which said bars are mounted and through which the bars extend intothe trough, means engaging the bars within the trough to reciprocate the same, and shafts extending longitudinally of said trough at opposite sides of said series of bars and having driving engagement with the inner ends of the shafts of said godet wheels.

HARRY W. BUTTERWORTI-I, JR. JOHN JOSEPH SIPPEL. 

